104  Gleanings  from  the  European  Journals.  {am*^i?iwl' 
dissolved  fuchsin,  although  Hager's  test  by  tannin  proved  the  total 
absence  of  alcohol.  He  states,  however,  that  the  addition  of  one-half 
per  cent,  of  alcohol  to  the  volatile  oil  will  preserve  it  from  oxidation 
for  a  ten  times  longer  period  than  without  such  addition  ;  the  oil  of 
crisped  mint  is  preserved  in  like  manner.  Ten  to  fifteen  drops  of 
the  oil  of  peppermint  containing  this  addition,  and  put  into  a  dry  test 
tube,  a  piece  of  tannin  of  the  size  of  a  pea  is  added,  slightly  agitated 
and  set  aside  for  one  hour  and  a  half;  the  tannin  will  remain  unal- 
tered unless  a  larger  quantity  of  alcohol  has  been  added,  when  it  will 
be  soft  or  dissolved  ;  one-half  per  cent,  of  alcohol  is  not  indicated  by 
this  test  in  less  than  two  or  three  hours.  The  author  considers  this 
addition  as  necessary  and  justifiable,  as  the  addition  of  a  small  quan- 
tity of  alcohol  to  absolute  chloroform  to  preserve  it  from  decomposi- 
tion.*— Pharm.  Centr.  Halle,  1871,  465—466. 
Carbolic  acid  Paper. — C.  Homburg,  of  Berlin,  has  introduced,  for 
disinfecting  purposes,  a  paste  board  saturated  with  crude  carbolic  acid, 
so  that  each  square  foot  contains  100  grammes.  The  atmosphere  may 
be  impregnated  with  the  acid  by  suspending  a  suitable  sheet  in  the 
rooms,  the  large  surface  of  the  paper  favoring  evaporation.  For  the 
disinfection  of  spittoons,  urinals,  bed-pans  and  the  like  small  pieces 
of  the  paper  are  sufficient.  The  article  is  sold  retail  in  sheets  mea- 
suring about  seven  square  feet,  at  twenty-five  cents. — Ibid.  p.  471. 
Oleoresina  Filicis  Maris. — To  prevent  the  deposition  of  a  precipi- 
tate in  this  oleoresin,  Hager  recommends  to  dry  the  powered  rhizome 
completely  over  burned  lime  and  to  employ  anhydrous  ether,  contain- 
ing but  little  alcohol  of  a  specific  gravity  below  0*728.  With  an 
ether  of  0*723  specific  gravity  and  a  completely  dehydrated  powder, 
which  is  best  exhausted  in  a  cylindrical  percolator,  the  oleoresin  re- 
mains perfectly  clear. — Ibid,  457. 
Solution  of  Subacetate  of  Alumina  is  a  mild  astringtnt,  and  has 
been  used  for  some  years  as  a  local  application  for  suppurating  wounds 
and  ulcers,  in  gleet,  some  eruptions,  intertrigo,  &c.  Hager  gives  the 
following  directions  for  its  preparation  : 
35  parts  crystallized  acetate  of  lead,  10  parts  litharge  and  33 
parts  water  are  heated  until  the  sediment  has  become  white  ;  when 
cold,  100  parts  water  are  added  and  the  whole  well  agitated.    A  solu- 
*  See  also  Amer.  Journ.  Pharm.,  1871,  p.  201. 
